Machine for the sale of newspapers



1936- A. EHRMANTRAUT MACHINE FOR THE SALE OF NEWSPAPERS Filed Dec. 18, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invent or A. EHRMANTRAIJT 2'm' Atbur g 1386- 1936- A. EHRMANTRAUT MACHINE FOR THE SALE OF NEWSPAPERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1935 Inventm I" A. EH FIB/LAN T R ALIT 5 ?/Zm 6 Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNETE STATES ATENT OFFICE Application December 18, 1935, Serial No. 55,080 In Canada July 23, 1934 12 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for the sale of newspapers, and an object of my invention is to devise a machine adapted to receive a supply of newspapers which may be removed from the machine one at a time by the actuation of an operating handle, the latter being only rendered operable by the insertion of a pair of coins into the machine.

A further object is to devise such a machine having members, actuated by the operating handle, which positively seize a single newspaper at a time and deliver it outside the machine, so that the action of the device is positive and substanr tially all possibility of the machine accepting the coins without delivery of a paper is eliminated.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide such a machine incorporating means for preventing the delivery of more than one paper after each insertion of a pair of coins and for preventing the receipt of coins when the supply of papers in the machine has become exhausted.

With these and other objects in View which will hereinafter appear as the specification proceeds, my invention consists of the construction and arrangement all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of my machine with the top removed and portions of the framework broken away; I

Hg. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a still further enlarged transverse ver tical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a similarly enlarged detail sectional view of one of the doors of the machine, taken on the line 63 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a greatly enlarged detail sectional view of the coin control means of my machine, taken on the line 'I-I of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the part of the coin control means shown in Fig. 7.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawings, the mechanism of my machine is contained within a housing I havin a paper-delivery orifice 2 and a hood 3 over a coin receiving tube 4. A supply of newspapers (indicated by the broken lines 5 in Fig. 3) may be inserted into the machine by lifting the upper rear wall 6 of the housing I, which is hinged to a lid 1 which is in turn hinged on a frame member 8 of the machine.

An operating handle 9 projects from the front of the machine, and is secured to the free ends of a U-shaped member II] which has a bar II projecting from the base of the U. The lower leg of the member I 0 is supported on a roller I2, and the bar II projects between bars I3 secured transversely in the frame of the machine, and is supported on a roller I4 journalled on the lower bar I3.

A pair of shafts I5 are journaled vertically, one on either side of the paper delivery orifice 2, between brackets H, H extending across the machine housing. Such shafts may be caused to rotate on longitudinal motion of the member Ill by means of a single arm I8 keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to one shaft I5, the free end of which is pivotally secured to one end of a link I9 of which the other end is journalled on a pin secured in the member ID, and a forked arm 2I similarly secured to the other shaft I5, the free ends of which are each pivotally secured to one end of each of links 22, 22, the other end of such links being pivoted on the pin 20. Coil springs 23 and 24 around the shafts I5 respectively have their free ends compressed between the housing I and the arms I8 and 2I respectively.

Longitudinal newspaper supporting bars 25 are supported between a bar 26 disposed transversely of the housing I and a shelf 21 on the rear wall of the housing, and said papers may be urged along such bars 25 by means of a pair of plates 28 disposed vertically at an angle to each other and secured to a supporting bar 29. The extremities of the bar 29 are twisted through 90, bent rearwardly and slotted to receive a rod 30 secured at either end to blocks 3I, 3I adapted to slide in grooves 32, 32 in longitudinal guides 33, 33 positioned adjacent each side wall of the housing I. A lug 34 projecting inwardly from each block 3I carries an adjusting screw 35, the point of which engages the bent extremity of the bar 29 to cause the straight portion of the latter to swing about the rod 30, when the screws are rotated to position the plates 28 vertically.

The blocks 3| carrying the plates 28 are urged forwardly in the machine by means of springs 36 compressed against levers 31 connected to levers 38 in lazy-tongs arrangement. The lazytongs system is supported on pins 39 rotatable in rollers rolling in slots M in the grooves 32 of the guides 33, each rearward roller abutting the end of its slot and each pin 39 in the forward end of the lazy-tongs being secured to one of the blocks 3|. Each spring 35 is compressed between a plate 42, pivotally secured to the intersection of a pair of the arms 31, and a plate 43, the plates 52 and 43 being held in alignment by a U-shaped rod M, the base of which engages the lower plate 43 and the legs of which pass freely through orifices in the plates and have nuts 45 on their free extremities which engage the upper plate 43.

The plates 28 may be held in a retracted position adjacent the rear wall of the housing I when the machine is opened to receive a supply of papers by means of a hook 46, pivoted on the rod 50, the lug of which may be inserted into an orifice M in a plate 48 secured to a shelf 59 of the machine frame. Such plate 48 projects exteriorly of the housing I through an orifice in the hinged wall section 5 when the latter is closed and a padlock may be hooked through the orifice El to lock the machine against pilfering.

'A pair of plates 55 against which the newspapers are urged by the plates 28 are positioned adjacent the delivery orifice 2, and have slots 5| therein for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. Each plate 55 is secured to a vertical supporting member 52 running between the bar 26 and a supporting member 53 secured between the upper bracket H and the bars l3.

On each of the shafts I5 a door 54 is swingably supported by means of a pair of hinges 55, 55, such door being adapted to swing outwardly behind the delivery orifice 2 and having a narrow flap 55 spring-hinged to its free margin, with the springs urging the flaps into the closed position, a stop 5'! limiting the motion of such flaps. Fingers i5 project outwardly from each door surface adjacent its free edge at the top and bottom thereof.

Adjacent the free margin of each door 54 a rod 58 is secured, between eyes 59 projecting from the hinges 55, and such rod carries a pair of swingable bifurcated newspaper grasping members 55. A rod 5! is pivoted at one extremity on a pin 52 secured between the legs of each member 50 and the other extremity of the rod passes freely through a disc 53 pivoted between arms 53 and '55 which are keyed or otherwise non-rotatably secured to the shaft !5. A spring 56 surrounds the rod 65 and is compressed between a head 5? thereon and the disc 63, its tension being adjustable by means of a nut 68, threaded on the rod.

The free extremities of each pair of arms 65 are joined by a bridge 69, from which extend arms 1E! carrying at their juncture a block H having a pair of arcuate arms l2 projecting therefrom, and between the free ends of such arcuate arms is pivoted at one end a roller guide 13, the opposite end of which is slotted to receive a screw Hi threaded into the block H by means of which the position of the roller guide may be adjusted. The roller guide 13 is adapted to engage a roller l5 journalled in one end of an arm 16 swingable on the rod 58 and having a detent projection ll adapted to engage a bar 18 bridging the free ends of a U-shaped member 19 secured at its base to the member 52, a spring urging the arm 15 towards the bar 18.

A vertically disposed bracing member 81 of substantially right angular cross sectionis fastened between each pair of hinges 55, and on the upstanding web of such member is secured a wing 82 of arcuate section which has a central slot through which the roller arm 16 passes. A

slotted plate 83 fastened on the convex surface of the wing 82 is provided with lugs as between which is pivoted a rockable dog 85-which is normally urged into the position illustrated in Fig. 6 by means of a spring 85.

Rollers 8'! are provided on the rod 58 between the various other elements attached thereto, and arcuate spring plates 88 are attached to lugs 89 on the inner faces of the front wall of the housing I and have their free extremities directed outwardly of the machine.

The member I!) terminating in the operating handle 9 is normally held against movement by means of one or both of a pair of detents 9U swingable on pins 91 passing through the bars l3 and each held in position for engagement with a projection 92 on either side of the member ID by a spring I58. The bar ll tapers smoothly into the projections 92, and triangular blocks 93 are secured to the bar it immediately to the rear of the member in, one above and one below the bar. A bell mouthed coin guide 95 is disposed on each side margin of the upper block 93 in such position that a .coin 55 may drop there-- into from each channel of a double coinway 96 to stand between a detent Q5 and the blocks 93, a bracket 97 having one leg secured to the detent 9t and its free leg projecting underneath the blocks 93 acting as a stop to position the coin symmetrically with respect to such blocks.

A lever 98 pivoted at one extremity on an arm 99 secured to a brace Hi5 extending between one of the bars l3 and the top of the housing I carries an ofiset arcuate plate Hill at its other extremity which is adapted to enter a correspondingly shaped slot I52 in the coinway 96 to prevent the insertion of coins thereinto. Such lever 98 is pivotally connected at a point intermediate its ends by a rod W3, a bell-crank I04 pivoted on the top of the housing l, and a rod I05 to a flap 1% which is in turn pivoted at its inner end on a coin receiving tray fill secured to one of the bars I3 and extending below the detents 90.

The operation of my machine is as follows:

The rear wall 5 and the, lid 3 of the housing I are opened up, and the rod 35 carrying its I plates 28 is retracted against the action of the springs 36 until the hook 55 maybe swung into the orifice 4'? of the plate 48 to hold the plates in the retracted position; A supply of news-- papers, which are preferably folded to halfsheet size, are then placed on the bars 25 with each folded paper standing vertically and with the folded edge resting on the bars, whereafter the hook 4B is released from its plate 58 to permit the springs 35 to urge the plates 28 against the papers and slide them along the bars 25 until they abut the plates 55. The pack of papers is thereby compressed so that each is presented toward the delivery orifice 2 in V shape with the apex facing the exterior of the machine. The lid 1 and wall section 5 may then be closed and locked shut. It will be noted that since the plate 48 is alternatively used to hold the rod 35 while the machine is being loaded and as a padlock receiving means when the machine is closed, it is impossible to inadvertently close the machine while the newspaper feed is held in the loading position by the hook 46.

The operating element it is normally held with the attached handle 9 abutting the housing I by the action of the springs 23 and 24, and the detents engage the projections 92 to prevent actuation of the element HI from such position. To obtain a newspaper from the machine, a coin is deposited in each of the elements of the double coinway 96, through which it drops into each of the guides 94 to rest on each of the brackets 91. Then, upon withdrawing the operating handle 9, each coin bridges the gap between the blocks 93 and wedges the corresponding detent 96 away from the projection 92 as the element 10 commences to move outwardly of the machine, permitting the projections 92 to escape the detents 90 whereupon the element It) may be withdrawn to the limit of its travel permitted by the rotation of the connected arms The coins remain against the blocks 93 until the latter are carried past the detents 9U, whereafter they drop into the tray I 01.

The linear travel of the element It causes the connected link l9 and single arm I8 and the connected forked arm 2! and links 22 to rotate the shafts l5 and swing the arms 64 and 65 therewith, the single arm l8 passing through the forked arm 2|.

The doors 54 are normally held in the closed position, as illustrated in the drawings, by the detent projections 71 on the arms :6 which engage the bars '18 across the members 79. Thus on the initial rotation of the arms 64 and 65 the springs 66 are compressed and the members 60 are thereby swung, on the rod 58, against the outermost newspaper which is pressed against the plates 50 by the lazy-tongs feed system, the slots 5! in such plates passing the legs of the members 6D. Continued rotation of the shafts l5 brings the roller guides 13 into contact with the rollers 15 to gradually swing the arms 16 about the rods 58 until the detent projections H are freed from engagement with the bars 18 permitting the doors 54 to open. During this action the paper is being firmly grasped between opposed pairs of members 60 and withdrawn from the apex of the pack. I

As the arms 64 and 65 reach the point in their travel at which the detent projections 17 are freed from the bars 18, the bridges 69 are engaged by the inner ends of the rockable dogs 85 to prevent retrograde rotation of the arms carrying the bridges, whereupon the doors 54 are snapped open by the action of the springs 66, and the newspaper, held between the pairs of members 60, is carried out between the doors until it projects through the delivery orifice 2, passing smoothly between the oppositely positioned pairs of rollers 89 as it is moved outwardly. Once the paper has reached the limit of its outward travel under the action of the grasping members 6t, retrograde movement thereof is prevented by the pairs of spring plates 88 which clamp it at the top and bottom. The paper engaging surfaces of both the grasping members 60 and the plates 88 are preferably provided with means for preventing the slipping of the paper thereover, such as a rubber surface layer or a number of minute spicular projections directed towards the delivery orifice. The fingers l6 serve to accurately direct the forward edge of the paper, which has been creased between the members 60, between the constricted portions of the delivery orifice to prevent jamming of the paper therein.

The paper having been delivered to the position where it is held between the plates 88, from which it may be subsequently removed by the purchaser, the handle 9 is released, whereupon the springs 23 and 24 swingthe arms l8 and 2| inwardly of the machine, retracting the member Ill and rotating the shafts l5 to close the doors 54. During the last part of the travel of the arms 64 and 65 in the outward direction, the outer ends of the rockable dogs 85 have been engaged by the bars 18, rocking the inner ends thereof out of engagement with the bridges 69, so that on their return travel the bridges pass the inner end of the dogs and finally reach their initial position, at which time the doors are closed and the detent projections H again engage the bars i8.

As long as one or more papers remain in the machine, the flap I06 is supported by the paper or papers and the connected plate I0! is held clear of the coinway I92. The removal of the last paper allows the flap I06 to drop, actuating the rod I05, bell-crank I04, and lever I03 to swing the member 98 upwardly to cause the plate ifil to enter the slot I02 in the coinway 96, thus preventing the reception of coins by the machine.

An advantage of my improved machine is that the positive grasping of each paper by thedelivery mechanism, coupled with the snap action thereof, ensure that a paper is delivered for each pair of coins accepted by the machine. For the same reasons, it is substantially impossible to start more than one paper at a time towards delivery by hesitating actuation of the operating handle, thus preventing jamming of the device.

Another advantage of my improved construction is that, by virtue of the lazy-tongs actuation of the newspaper feed which permits a relatively small expanson of the springs to effect a relatively great movement of the plates which press against the papers, the feed pressure on the paper pack is substantially the same regardless of the number of papers in the pack, so that substantially the same force is required to actuate the machine at all times.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A machine for the sale of newspapers comprising a frame, a pair of. rotatable shafts journalled therein and disposed in parallel relation, means in the frame for positioning a newspaper between and spaced away from the shafts and folding it into V shape with the base of the V parallel to and presented toward the shafts, a newspaper engaging arm connected to each shaft in opposed relation, and means for simultaneously rotating said shafts to cause the newspaper engaging arms to grasp the newspaper and deliver it exteriorly of the machine.

2. A machine for the sale of newspapers comprising a frame, a pair of rotatable shafts journalled therein and disposed in parallel relation, means in the frame for positioning a newspaper between and spaced away from the shafts and folded into V shape with the base of the V parallel to and presented toward the shafts, a door hinged on each shaft, the swingable edges of each door being normally adjacently positioned, a newspaper engaging element hinged on the inner free margin of each door and extending rearwardly thereof, means for simultaneously rotating said shafts, compressible spring means carried by each of said shafts for swinging the newspaper engaging elements toward each other to grasp the newspaper therebetween on rotation of the shafts, detent means for holding the doors against opening during the compression of said spring means, means for releasing said detent means when said spring means are fully compressed to permit the spring means to swing open the doors and deliver the newspaper held between-the newspaper engaging elements exteriorly of the machine, interlocking means for preventing retrograde movement of the spring carrying means during delivery of the newspaper, and means for restoring the doors and the newspaper engaging elements to their normal position after delivery of a newspaper.

3. A machine for the sale of newspapers as claimed in claim 2 wherein the compressible spring means for swinging the newspaper engaging elements towards each other comprises an arm rigidly secured to each of said shafts and a coil spring pivotally secured at one extremity to the free extremity of said arm and at the other extremity to said newspaper engaging element.

4. A machine for the sale of newspapers as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means in the frame for positioning the newspaper comprises a pair of plates positioned in spaced apart rela tion at approximately right angles to each other and with the apex of the solid angle formed thereby directed towards the doors, and spring actuated means for urging the newspaper against said plates.

5. A machine for the sale of newspapers as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means in the frame for positioning the newspaper comprises a pair of plates positioned in spaced apart relation at approximately right angles to each other and with the apex of the solid angle formed thereby directed towards the doors, each plate having a slot in the margin thereof which is adjacent the doors through which the corresponding newspaper engaging element is adapted to pass on actuation of the compressible spring means, a

second pair of plates disposed similarly to the first mentioned pair of plates, and spring actuated means for urging said second pair of plates towards said first mentioned pair of plates.

6. A machine for the sale of newspapers comprising a housing having a newspaper delivery orifice therein, a supporting frame therein, a plurality of rails positioned in the frame longitudinally of the machine adapted to support a plurality of newspapers standing vertically thereon, a pair of plates vertically positioned above the rails in the form of a V with their adjacent edges presented toward the delivery orifice, means for feeding the newspapers along the rails against said plates to force them into a V-shaped pack, a pair of shafts disposed vertically in the frame, one on either side of said orifice, an operating handle disposed exteriorly of the housing, means for translating motion of the operating handle into simultaneous rotation of the shafts, a pair of doors hinged one on each shaft and normally closing said delivery orifice, a newspaper engaging element pivoted on the inner surface of each door, compressible spring means operatively carried by said shafts and newspaper engaging elements for simultaneously swinging said elements to grasp a newspaper therebetween from the apex of the pack on rotation of said shafts, detent means for holding the doors against opening during the compression of said spring means, means for releasing said detent means when said spring means are fully compressed to permit the latter to swing open the doors and deliver the newspaper therethrough, interlocking means for preventing retrograde movement of the spring means during delivery of the newspaper, means adjacent the delivery orifice for preventing retrograde movement of the newspaper after passing through the doors, and spring means for restoring the operative parts to their normal positions.

'7. A machine for the sale of newspapers as claimed in claim 6 wherein each plate of said pair has a slot in the margin thereof which is presented toward the delivery orifice through which the corresponding newspaper engaging element is adapted to pass on actuation of the compressible spring means, and the means for feeding the newspapers comprises a second pair of plates disposed similarly to the first mentioned pair of plates and spring actuated means for urging said second pair of plates towards said first mentioned pair of plates.

8. A machine for the sale of newspapers as claimed in claim 6 wherein said translating means comprises a bar secured to the operating handle, anti-friction means for slidably supporting the bar in the frame, an arm rigidly secured to each of said shafts, a pin on the inner extremity of the bar, and a link pivotally connecting the free end of each arm with the pin.

9. A machine for the sale of newspapers as claimed in claim 6 wherein said compressible spring means for swinging the newspaper engaging elements comprises a pair of arms rigidly secured to each shaft, a plate pivoted between the free extremities of such arms, a rod pivotally connected at one extremity to the newspaper engaging member and passing freely through an orifice in said plate, a coil spring disposed around said rod and compressed between said plate and. the newspaper engaging element, and means on the rod for adjusting the tension in the spring.

10. A machine for the sale of newspapers as claimed in claim 6 wherein said compressible spring means for swinging the newspaper engaging elements comprises a pair of arms rigidly secured to each shaft, a plate pivoted between the free extremities of each pair of arms, a rod pivotally connected at one extremity to each newspaper engaging element and passing freely through an orifice in the corresponding plate, a coil spring disposed around each rod and compressed between the plate and the newspaper engaging element and means on each rod for adjusting the tension in its spring, and the detent means comprises an arm hinged on the free margin of each door, a roller journalled in the free extremity of each arm, a lug on each of such arms, a U-shaped member secured at its base to a fixed upright member of the frame with its free extremities extending in rear of each door, a bar connecting the extremities of each U- shaped member and adapted to normally engage the lug on the corresponding last mentioned arm, spring means for normally urging each arm into engagement with the corresponding bar, and an arcuate roller guide carried by one arm of each of said pairs of arms rigidly secured to each shaft and adapted to engage the corresponding roller to disengage the lugs from the corresponding bars upon the springs being fully compressed, and the interlocking means comprises an arcuate plate secured to each door adjacent the free edge thereof and projecting between the newspaper engaging element and the door and each having a slot therein disposed transversely of the door, a spring-held rockable dog pivoted in each slot, and a dog-engaging projection carried by one arm of each pair of arms rigidly secured to each shaft, one end of each dog being adapted to engage the corresponding projection as the doors are freed for opening, and the other end of each dog being adapted to be engaged by the bar joiningthe free extremities of the corresponding U- shaped member to release said spring compressting to completely close the space between the free edges of said doors.

12. In a machine for the sale of newspapers as claimed in claim 6, a finger secured to and projecting from the outer surface of each door 5 adjacent its free edge for directing the newspaper through said delivery orifice.

ALFRED EHRMANTRAUT. 

